State Senate squeezes gun money into bill encouraging bison hunt

CHEYENNE -- The Wyoming State Senate has voted to shoehorn an appropriation of money to fight any possible federal gun ban into a bill originally intended to encourage bison hunting.

The Senate on Tuesday voted to amend the bill to add a $250,000 appropriation to the state Attorney General's Office for possible legal action to protect gun rights. The House would have to approve the change before the bill goes to the governor.

President Barack Obama has called for a crackdown on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines following December's massacre of 20 school children in Connecticut.

The Wyoming Senate last week declined to hear a separate bill that sought to exempt Wyoming from any assault weapons ban because legislative leaders said a pro-gun organization had used rude lobbying tactics.